The acclaimed Georgian artist who died on June 6 wrote some of the U.S.S.R.’s most beloved films, then turned to puppetry to evade communist censors.
'Let Our Tears Come Only From Cutting Onions': The Work Of Rezo Gabriadze
- By Amos Chapple
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Revaz "Rezo" Gabriadze in 1985.
The family of the legendary Georgian artist Revaz Gabriadze announced he had died in Tbilisi on June 6, aged 84.
The family of the legendary Georgian artist Revaz Gabriadze announced he had died in Tbilisi on June 6, aged 84.
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Gabriadze painting marionettes in 1985.
The artist was born in Kutaisi in 1936 and was best known for creating Tbilisi’s most famous puppet theater. He was also behind some of the most enduring films of the Soviet era.
The artist was born in Kutaisi in 1936 and was best known for creating Tbilisi’s most famous puppet theater. He was also behind some of the most enduring films of the Soviet era.
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A scene from the 1977 comedy Mimino, about an unlikely friendship between a Georgian pilot and an Armenian truck driver who meet in Moscow. The classic movie has been viewed nearly 10 million times on YouTube.
Gabriadze wrote the screenplay for Mimino, as well as the cult sci-fi movie Kin-Dza-Dza! and other films. Frustrated by censorship imposed on moviemakers by the communist authorities, he founded a puppet theater in Tbilisi’s old town in 1981.
Gabriadze wrote the screenplay for Mimino, as well as the cult sci-fi movie Kin-Dza-Dza! and other films. Frustrated by censorship imposed on moviemakers by the communist authorities, he founded a puppet theater in Tbilisi’s old town in 1981.
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An early performance in his Tbilisi theater.
Inside the space that sat just a few dozen people, Gabriadze faced less scrutiny from the “morality police” over his storytelling.
Inside the space that sat just a few dozen people, Gabriadze faced less scrutiny from the “morality police” over his storytelling.
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A performance in the Gabriadze Theater in 1983.
The puppet performances, which used scruffy marionettes to tell profound stories, soon won fans around the world. The theater troupe toured extensively.
The puppet performances, which used scruffy marionettes to tell profound stories, soon won fans around the world. The theater troupe toured extensively.
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A scene from Autumn Of Our Spring being performed in Moscow.
Gabriadze was bestowed with several international honors, including France's Commander of the Order of Arts and Literature.
Gabriadze was bestowed with several international honors, including France's Commander of the Order of Arts and Literature.
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A moment from Gabriadze’s play about the battle for Stalingrad.
The playwright later wrote about the creation of his Tbilisi theater: “My dream came true.... I am grateful to my fate, to the puppets, and my small troupe, rustling softly in dark corners of this old building.”
The playwright later wrote about the creation of his Tbilisi theater: “My dream came true.... I am grateful to my fate, to the puppets, and my small troupe, rustling softly in dark corners of this old building.”
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Gabriadze in 2012.
Along with his scriptwriting and puppet-making, Gabriadze was also an accomplished artist and sculptor.
Along with his scriptwriting and puppet-making, Gabriadze was also an accomplished artist and sculptor.
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St. Petersburg’s famous Chizhik-Pyzhik monument (on the pedestal in the center of this photo) was created by Gabriadze. It is one of the smallest statues in Russia and is one of the stars of the city's riverboat tours.
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The life-sized bird sculpture was placed above a canal in a nod to a famous Russian folk song.
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Gabriadze built the “leaning tower of Tbilisi” in front of his puppet theater in 2011. It soon became one of the Georgian capital’s most popular sights.
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Crowds gather under the tower in the summer of 2019.
Every hour, doors open on the tower to reveal mannequins enacting a kind of “circle of life.”
Every hour, doors open on the tower to reveal mannequins enacting a kind of “circle of life.”
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After an angel rings a bell at the top of the tower, mannequins emerge representing two youngsters who meet, fall in love, marry, have children, and then die.
Next to the tower, on Gabriadze’s theater, is a quote from the late artist that captures his poignant, playful style: “Let our tears come only from cutting onions.”
Next to the tower, on Gabriadze’s theater, is a quote from the late artist that captures his poignant, playful style: “Let our tears come only from cutting onions.”
